Papiamentu was influenced by the slave trade
and has connections with West Africa

The common view on the origin of Papiamentu is that it is an
Afro-Portuguese creole
(the Proto-Afro-Portuguese creole theory).
However, due to the considerable Spanish influence on
Papiamentu, a group of authors considers Papiamentu a Spanish-based
creole (the Spanish hypothesis).

The Proto-Afro-Portuguese creole theory is the most widely
accepted hypothesis about the genesis of Papiamentu.
After the Dutch conquest of Curaçao in 1634, Curaçao
served as a slave depot that provided Spanish colonies with slaves.
The importation of slaves started after the conquest of the
Portuguese strongholds in Angola in 1641 by the Dutch, bringing
slaves from mainly Guinea and Angola to Curaçao.
The basic
claim of this theory is that slaves learned the Afro-Portuguese
during the long periods of time that they were kept in Afro-Portuguese
speaking slave depots before they were shipped overseas. Initially,
this theory assumed that all Atlantic Creole languages, including
Papiamentu, derive from one language, namely the Afro-Portuguese
pidgin-creole that originated as a result of the first encounter
between Portuguese settlers and native inhabitants on the west coast
of Africa. Currently, several variations of the
Afro-Portuguese creole theory exist. One of the main discussions
is about whether or not the initial Afro-Portuguese had already
developed into a creole, or if it was still a pidgin when it was
transmitted to the Caribbean.
In Curaçao, Papiamentu underwent Dutch influence, mainly
contributing to the vocabulary. Through Dutch, also English and
French elements entered Papiamentu. Later on, the influence of
the Spanish speaking environment caused a hispanization of Papiamentu.

The Spanish hypothesis comes in two parts.
The first Spanish hypothesis suggests that
Papiamentu is basically a branch of Spanish that was generated
through corruptions. The connection to Africa is not made, however,
a Dutch influence is acknowledged in the form of new words
introduced to the vocabulary. This is the first known description
of Papiamentu and was presented in the 19th century in Italy.
The second Spanish hypothesis suggests an African connection, but
its defenders argue that Papiamentu does not originate from
a kind of Portuguese brought through slaves from West Africa.
In their opinion, Papiamentu is a direct descendant of the Spanish
that was used in the area during the Spanish rule, and the small
Portuguese, English, and Dutch influence came later.